Where to find some of the best shoes in town
Where to find some of the best shoes in town
Tracking down fabulous original footwear on Queen West hasn’t always been an easy task. Chain retailers have squeezed out many smaller boutiques and the unique lines they offered. The void bothered Daniela Bosco so much that she opened Chasse Gardée at Dovercourt (she was sick of schlepping to Yorkville). “I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the city,” says Bosco. “I love Queen West.” The petite boutique, which doubles as a yoga studio in the off-hours, is sparsely stocked—shoes and handbags are given gallery treatment—but what glorious stock it is. Bosco calls the fashion industry disposable and instead wants to offer customers well-made pieces that stand out from the crowd. Here are 11 of her favourites.
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- Finsk fish-skin heels, $425 <br /> “I love, love, love the designer,” says Bosco, who is sporting a similar pair. “They’re beautiful, unique pieces that you can wear forever.” Handmade in Brazil, the heel is made from birch wood, and the grey material is fish skin, though it feels like suede. Chasse Gardée is the only place in the country to find this ultra-sexy line.
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- Belstaff motorcycle boots, $599 <br />“Yes, it’s a higher price point, but these will last a lifetime,” says Bosco. They should, too: the boots are handmade in Italy and have a metal plate in the toe and the sole. Men’s and women’s styles are on offer.
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- Jeffrey Campbell sandals, $140 <br />If there’s one casual summer shoe to pick up this season, make it a fun pair like these leather ones. Why? Bosco says, “They are a nice little shot of colour, and you can wear them all the time.”
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- Slow and Steady Wins the Race handbag, $999 <br />Chasse Gardée is the exclusive Toronto retailer of Slow and Steady, a New York company that makes basics with a twist. This is the limited-edition four-sided Birkin bag (there’s room for a small child inside), of which only 100 were made. The store also carries the less expensive canvas pieces (inset, $125), which Bosco uses to haul groceries.
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- Jenny Bird clutch, $335 <br />The designer of this leather clutch is Toronto’s Jenny Bird, who launched her self-titled accessories line last year. “I try to carry as many Torontonians in the store as I can, though it’s hard to find shoemakers here.” The magenta micro-suede lining is a cheerful pop of unexpected colour.
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- Swedish Hasbeens clog, $230 <br />“I’m bringing back the clog,” declares Bosco. These hard-to-find shoes are handmade with Italian leather and limewood by a company that was founded in the ’70s (when clogs were cool), then brought back to life in 2006 in the same factory, using the same techniques.
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- Kathryn Amberleigh platforms, $255 <br />Despite their appearance, we’re told that these are extremely comfortable, though Bosco, who lives in heels, likes them more for the futuristic edge they add to an outfit.
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- Fringe hobo, $450 <br />The last one left in the store, this hippy-dippy bag was handmade in Morocco. Fringe is a prominent trend right now, but this incarnation is definitely not for the shy.
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- Hyde SK shoulder bag, $275 <br />Speaking of loud bags, this coral purse looks like leather but is actually lorica, a vegan product made mostly from cotton.
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- You Must Create men’s shoes, $315 <br />These canvas kicks with leather trim were designed for a more fashion-forward guy, though we’re confident that the right woman could pull them off, too.
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- 80%20 NYC booties, $199 <br />With a peep toe and hidden wedge heel that makes walking less hellish than in some other heels, Bosco says, “These can change the whole aesthetic of your outfit.”
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- Daniela Bosco, owner of Chasse Gardée <br />Look for more clothing to appear at the shop in the coming months. Bosco has teamed up with Kendra Francis, a designer from <em>Project Runway Canada,</em> to create a capsule collection sold exclusively at Chasse Gardée.
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Chasse Gardée. 1084 Queen St. W., 416-901-9613.
Product photos by Jenna Marie Wakani.
I love this store, I can’t get enough of it. I want and need everything in it. Check it out before your size is gone!
wicked!!!!!
This store is amazing! It has the best ambiance in there plus the staff is really helpful. Some great accessories AS WELL as great shoes…worth a visit for sure!
Gorgeous! They are so beautiful!
This store has beautiful shoes, however, one of the sales associates is so rude, it makes me never want to go in again. It’s a shame when I have money to spend, and support a local bussiness, but feel I can’t because of the cold atmosphere in the store. It makes me feel completley un-welcome. I’m glad heel boy is down the street…